Theta Campaign - Return of the Dragon Queen – Episode 34 Pt. 2

Written by: Flamereptile

Written: 07/06/2026

Theta Campaign - Return of the Dragon Queen – Episode 34 Pt. 2

This week’s tale continues as the party approaches the lair of the blue dragon Sarathra and the red dragon Vharax.

The skyland, Sky’s Reach came to a halt as Alonzo gave notice to Blagothskul that they were right above the dragon’s lair. He descended the long, winding steps of Blagothskul’s tower and approached his party.

“It’s right below us. Are we ready?” he asked as he lit a fresh cigar and took a puff from it.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Said Prinze.

“I’m ready.” Said Beezul.

“Eeh, I guess so.” Said Dolgrak.

The four descended below, coming before the entrance to a rocky cave. They looked at Alonzo for confirmation that it would be safe and he nodded, then they all entered.

The entrance to the cave narrowed and winded until it opened once more into a large cavern. Sitting within the center of the space was a nice pile of coins, likely the spoils of raids conducted on some unlucky townships nearby. The four set out to uncover the riches of the dragon’s hoard.

Prinze immediately began shoveling coins and gemstones into his Bag of Holding, hoping to replenish some of the treasury he had spent in the recent weeks.

Dolgrak, less equipped for taking a large volume of treasure, picked through the gems and coins and art, searching for something valuable he could call his own. In the pile he found a swift looking scimitar, encrusted with jewels.

Alonzo also began shoveling coins into his bag, but he happened across a peculiar looking ring engraved with flaming insignia. He slipped over one of his fingers and continued looting.

Beezul, a kobold of whimsey, climbed to the top of the pile of loot, hoping to find a unique treasure there, but instead he found a nest of linens that contained five eggs. Each egg was swirled with red and blue scales, and was as large as his torso.

“What are you doing with those?” asked Prinze who floated above and behind Beezul, startling him as he tried to shove the eggs in his bag.

Jumping, and almost dropping one of the eggs, Beezul replied, “Keeping them.”

“Why?” shot Prinze.

“Why not?” defended Beezul as he shoved one in his bag.

“You better be keeping those to eat them.” Glared Prinze.

“No.” replied Beezul, shoving another in.

Prinze cracked his knuckled, “You’re not keeping those alive.”

“Why not?” asked Beezul as he shoved a third into his bag.

“They’re dragon eggs. Dragons are evil.”

“But I want to hatch them. Raise them as good dragons.” Said Beezul as he shoved the fourth in his bag.

Prinze jumped down from his broom, landing on the fifth egg and crushing it as Beezul reached towards it.

“There are no good dragons.” Said Prinze.

“What about metallic dragons?” Asked Beezul.

“They are especially evil.” Said Prinze, “Because they parade around as good.”

“It’s okay. You’ve got your loot. I have mine.”

“Last time there were dragon eggs you sold them to Sylverfang for power. I won’t let you do that again.” Threatened Prinze, “I could kill you for that.”

“Not if I kill you first.” Threatened Beezul.

The two stared at each other for a moment. Alonzo and Dolgrak looked up from their looting towards the two atop the pile.

“I’m not letting you leave with those intact.” Said Prinze, “I need you to understand that we’re at an impasse.”

“I think we’re in a cave.” Said Beezul.

Prinze cracked his knuckles, “We need to destroy those Zul. What don’t you understand about that?”

“All of it. Why do you have to destroy my loot?”

“The cult is trying to resurrect the Chromatic Queen. They will use those to do it if they can.”

“This isn’t the cult, Prinze. These were just two random dragons.”

“All dragons are part of the cult!” snapped Prinze.

“I don’t think they are.” replied Beezul.

“If the Chromatic Queen comes back, she gains dominion over all dragons. They are a liability.”

“Not metallic dragons.” Retorted Beezul, “They’ll be fine.”

“Those aren’t the eggs of a metallic dragon!”

“But… if we prevent her from coming back then they won’t be a problem.”

“They’re a liability…” said Prinze.

“We can compromise then.” Replied Beezul.

“Yes. We can.” Snapped Prinze, “You kill them, then, after we stop the cult, I’ll all other dragonkind, then you last.”

“Counter proposal, you kill two now, then I keep the others.” Countered Beezul.

“But that still leaves two.”

“Then after we kill the cult I can raise them as good dragons?” continued Beezul.

Prinze sighed, “I can make that work… for now.”

Beezul reached into his bag, procured two of the eggs, and handed them to Prinze. He immediately smashed one on the ground below them, then threw the other at Dolgrak as he turned to continue looting the hoard.

“What the fuck?” asked Dolgrak, now soaked in egg.

Prinze ignored him and kept an eye on Beezul.

The party spent the next few hours collecting all of the wealth of the dragon’s hoard and transporting it to Sky’s Reach where it was piled up to be sorted after the skyland had resumed course towards the Veiled Forest.

As the last of the hoard was piled upon the main thoroughfare of Sky’s Reach, and the skyland had began moving once more, the sky darkened above. Surrounding the pile of wealth, the party looked towards its center where a familiar ghostly apparition began to take shape.

Prinze immediately reached into his bag, procuring a vial of oil, and began slathering it over his fists. He shouted, “Alonzo, defend the corpses. Beezul, take aim. Dolgrak… do Dolgrak things.”

As he slathered the oil he wondered why his fists had yet to become translucent? Why he couldn’t yet reach into the ethereal plane? He turned over the vial and read the instructions.

“Apply liberally over surface. Wait 10 minutes for the oil to take effect…”

That would be why…

The apparition finished incorporating, conveniently outside of Prinze’s punching range, not that he would be able to punch Sylverfang either way.

The ghastly wish dragon loomed overhead, taunting the party, “I have been away some time my sheep. It seems that we have lost two of our flock.”

“Who did we lose again?” asked Beezul.

“Are we a flock? Who is the flock?” asked Prinze.

“Who is this broad?” asked Dolgrak.

Sumulatneously Beezul and Prinze replied, “This is Sylverfang. She lives in the skyland.”

“You let a dragon live in the skyland?” replied Dolgrak, “You? Prinze? Let a dragon? Live in the skyland?”

“Yeah, well there’s not much I can do when I can’t punch her.” Replied Prinze as he cocked his fists in preparation of Sylverfang coming within range.

“Enough! It is time again for you to tithe to me!” shouted Sylverfang.

“No.” said Prinze, “We aren’t going to do that anymore.”

“No?” asked Sylverfang, “No!? Beezul, eliminate Prinze!”

Beezul grasped his Bee-Bee Gun and began to shake, “But… but I like Prinze.”

“Obey!” Shouted Sylverfang again

“But… but he could be of use to us!” implored Beezul.

“His use has run its course.” Snapped Sylverfang.

Dolgrak loaded and discharged his crossbow at the ghostly dragon. His bolt passed harmlessly through her.

“Is Beezul being possessed?” asked Dolgrak.

“I don’t think so.” Replied Alonzo, “I think he’s having a conundrum.”

Dolgrak, confused, turned and ran for cover in a nearby house, raising his crossbow once more.

“Eliminate him!” shouted Sylverfang once more.

“No… I can’t! He’s still useful!” shouted Beezul, shaking more than ever.

“Hey!” shouted Prinze at Sylverfang, “Why don’t you command me to kill Beezul?”

Sylverfang ceased for a moment, taken aback, “Do it. Kill Beezul.”

Prinze flipped her a lewd gesture and shouted, “Don’t tell me what to do!”

At his gesture, Sylverfang shouted, “Then die!”

Everybody lurched forward towards Sylverfang.

She pointed her finger towards Prinze, casting a spell over him that forced him to act in accordance with her will. “Now, kill Beezul my puppet!” she bellowed.

Beezul cast a spell over himself, warding from the poisons he’s seen Sylverfang expel in the past, and then flew outside of Prinze’s reach.

Prinze, staggering towards Beezul against his own will, began to meditate, calming his mind and regaining control over his own faculties, ending Sylverfang’s spell.

“Be careful everyone. She’s tricksy. She’ll try to take over your mind.” Said Prinze as he prepared to strike once she was in range.

Sylverfang disappeared into a poof of silvery smoke and reappeared around Beezul as a cloud. Beezul’s body began to rise farther from the surface of Sky’s Reach as the smoke poured into him. His eyes rolled back into his head and became silvery.

Sylverfang, in her new kobold body, cracked Beezul’s neck left then right. With his hands, she procured Beezul’s Bee-Bee Gun and loaded it with a bee, coated with acid. She fired it at Prinze, catching him in the shoulder, leaving behind a puncture hole that burned after it had exited. She procured another bee, again loading it and coating it in freezing air, and firing it once more. This time, piercing clean through Prinze’s left thigh. Prinze winced in paid, looking worse for wear after being shot twice.

 Alonzo, unsure what to do, dropped to his knees and began to pray, something he had not done for quite some time. He prayed to the Lord for the means to defeat this spirit. And the Lord’s servant answered, casting a glowing lance through the clouds above, piercing a hole through the clouds themselves with radiant light. The lance, wreathed in golden light, stuck into the ground beside Alonzo.

Alonzo rose and grabbed the lance. Tendrils of bright cloth reached out to his harm and wrapped themselves around him as he charged forwards and struck Beezul square in the chest, forcing the ghastly wish dragon from his body, and ending the possession.

Forced to the filthy ground, Sylverfang snarled and tried to assert her dominance over Alonzo, but her power was uselessly blocked out by the radiance of the lance.

“You are no longer the threat here.” Said Alonzo, “I am the threat, and with this lance I will slay you… you bitch!”

Frightened for the first time since ascending, Sylverfang vanished into a cloud of silver smoke, calling out, “This isn’t over!”

As Sylverfang disappeared, wisps of silver smoke wafted outwards, into each of the Giant’s of Sky’s Reach.

A lightning laced bee lashed out in the ground where Sylverfang disappeared as Beezul tried to strike her as she fled, but to no avail.

Prinze unsure whether to go out in search of Sylverfang or strike Beezul down hesitates as Alonzo strikes at the ground with his lance, trying to stab Sylverfang as she flees.

Alonzo, Beezul, and Prinze suddenly look up to the sounds of clanging metal and heavy footsteps, realizing the dozens of ogres approaching from behind, eyes silvery and smoky.

“Sorry… my… lord…” mumbled Wiglof as he stumbled towards Prinze, “I… have… no… control… over… my… own… body…”

That is where this week’s tale ends, and next week’s will begin.